Switching device



NOV.

' H. w. GOFF SWITCHING DEVICE Filed June 8, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mike/72v Wm/d A" 0 Nov. 30 1926. 1,608,500

H. w. GOFF SWITCHING DEVICE Filed June 8, 1922 2 Sheets-Shet 2* Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD W. GOFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

Application filed June 8,

This invention relates to power transmission devices, and more particularly to magnetic clutches wherein a magnetic engagement is eflected between a driving and driven member.

Th present invention provides improvements in switches of the type employed in automatic telephone systems and wherein brushes are permanently secured to a driven member and operated to make contact with the stationary terminals such as in sequence switches, rotary stepping switches and in other similar devices.

In switches of the step-by-step type the contact making brushes are ordinarly mounted on a ratchet wheel which is adapted to be driven by a pawl associated with V the armature of a driving magnet, so that when the magnet is intermittently energized the movement of the armature is imparted to the ratchet wheel through the pawl, the brushes thereby experiencing a stepping movement.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a driving mechanism for the brushes associated with rotary and panel type switches, wherein the driving and driven members are adapted to impart motion to one another without the intervention of ratchet wheels and pawls.

Another object of this invention is to effect a magnetic short circuit which causes a high degree of saturation in the gripping surfaces thereby insuring against lost motion or slip between the driving and driven members.

In accordance with the foregoing objects this invention consists essentially, of a magnet comprising a spool of a magnetic material, a coil for energizing the magnet and an armature bridging the edges of the spool head and adapted to grip the spool upon energization of the magnet.

In the accompanying drawings various modifications of the invention are shown and several adaptations thereof disclosed.

Fig. 1 shows the preferred form of the invention as applied to a rotary stepping switch. Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the magnet showing how the windings thereof may be mounted so as to permit the rotation of the spool independently of the windings. Fig. 4 shows the application of the magnetic clutch to a panel type switch. Fig. 5 is a 1922. Serial N0. 566,916.

side view of a section of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 show another applicationof the clutch to a panel type switch. In this case a plurality of shoes are secured to a rotatable gear wheel and are adapted to be magnetically engaged by the spool heads of the magnet.

A complete understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings:

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an operating magnet 1 is provided with an armature 2 pivotolly mounted on the spool head at the point 3. The operating magnet 1 may be provided with a circuit such as is indicated in which key may be a contact operated by the magnet itself in the well-known manner or by any outside agency. The armature 2 is L-shaped and extends along the length of the magnet. A reed 6 connects one end of armature 2 to a magnetic shoe which serves as an armature for the clutch magnet The shoe 4 is shaped to coincide with the edges of the spool heads of magnet 5 and effects a magnetic short-circuit between the spool heads upon energization of the magnet 5.

Permanently mounted on a shaft 7 on which the spool of magnet 5 is mounted, are a ratchet 8 and a set of brushes 9. Upon rotation of the spool of magnet 5, the brushes 9 experience a similar movement and make contact with the switch terminals 10 which are mounted in sets on a semicircular framework 11..

An auxiliary mounting member 12, to

spring 16 which serves to keep the shoe 4 in 1.

constant engagement with the spool of magnet 5 and also to return the shoe to its 'normal position upon deenergization of magnets 5 and 1 and the subsequent release of armature 2. A pawl 17 communicating with theratchet wheel 8 holds the brushes 9 in their operated positions after magnet 5 is deenergized and the shoe 4 returned to its normal position under the influence of spring 16.

The'operation' of the switch is as follows:

Magnets 1 and 5 are simultaneously energized from any suitable source of current. The magnetic shoe .4, bridging the spool heads of magnet 55, completes the magnetic circuit for this magnet and is magnetically gripped by the spool heads. At the same time the magnetic shoe 1 engages the spool heads of magnet 5, the armature 2 is actuated by the energization of magnet 1 and its movement is transmitted to the shoe abythe reed 6, so that-the spool of magnet '5 is rotated through a small arc. The brushes 9 being secured to the spool of magnet 5, also travel through a similar are and wipe over the switchtermina'ls 10. Upon the deenergi-zation of magnets land 5', the armature 2 and the shoe 4 are released, the spring 16 serving to return them to their normal positions while the pawl 17 retains the brushes 9 in their operated positions.

Figs. 4 and 6 show modified forms of .the invention ano demonstrate the utility of such magnetic clutches to panel type switches. Referring first to Figs. 4 and 5 the magnetic shoe 18 is made in the form of an elongated bar and is adapted to operate with a plurality of magnets 19 as shown. Permanently mounted on the shoe 18 and insulated there from is a member 20 on whichthe thrush arm 32 is mounted. T he upper ma net 19 being energized attracts the shoe 18 which is moved upwards due to the clock-wise rotation of-the spool 33 of magnet '19. This rotation is effected by the constantly operating shaft 30 to which the spool 83 is secured. By the upward movement of shoe 18 the brush associated with brush arm 32 is caused .to wipe over the switch terminals '31. The lower magnet 19 acts to operate the shoe 1-8 in a direction reverse to that effected by the upper magnet 19. Means for mounting the magnet clutches is provided by the member 21 and bolts 13 and 22. The moving parts are counterbalanced the weight 41.

In Figs 6 and 7 the clutch magnet having windings 27 is provided with a plurality .of shoes 28 which are permanently secured :to a gear wheel 23 which meshes with a toothed member 24; on which a brush arm may be mounted. The windings 27 in this case are not mounted independently of the spool as heretofore described and are provided with slip rings and feeders 25 and 26, respective.- ly, so that they may be energized while rotating with the magnet spool. The operation of this modification of the invention is fundamentally-the same as the other forms heretofore described.

W a is claimed is:

1. In a switching device, two operatin members, a magnet having a rotatable spoo and ashoe bridging the flanges of said spool, one of said operating members being connected .to said shoe, whereby upon energization of said magnet propulsive energy may be transmitted from one of said members to the other ,of said members.

2. In aswi-t-ching device, a magnet having a le 11 9 and a sh e r dging th edges of said spool, and a second magnet havingan armature fixed .to theshoe of said first magnetwhereby the spool of said first magnet is rotated upon the energization of both of said magnets.

In r-P s" deai a;=ph fa1 tyf .fe eatromagnets, ii-matures associated therewith, one of said armatures bridging the poles of its associated magnet and acting as aclutch, another of ,said a r-rnatures adapted .to oscillate upon the intermittent energizationof its associated magnet, and aneans joining both of said armatures whereby the oscillatory movement of said second armature imparted to said first armature, the magnet associated therewith experiencing a stepping rotary motion.

4. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet spool, means for rotatably mounting a winding on said spool, a shoe bridging the heads .of said spool, and a driving i-member asso- .ciated'with said shoe and intermittently actuated, whereby said magnet spool is stepped around, subsequent to the energi zation of the winding thereon.

5. In a switching device, a driving .mem-

ber,'a driven member, a -Inagnet having a rotatable spool connected with said driven member, a shoe bridging the flanges of said spool, and means for GOnnecting said shoe with said driving member, said magnet when energized being effective to transmit propulsive energy from said drivi-ngmember to. said driven member.

6. In a switching device, a brush carriage, a magnet haw in-g a rotatable spool, means comprising a shoe bridging the edges of said spool for advancing said carriage, and means for retaining said carriage in its advanced position. 7

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of June A. 1),, 1922.

EAR-0L1 W. .GQFF 

